Esports: Williams Finish 1-2 as Sim Racers Take to the Track for the First Time

Williams Esports switches the simulator for the circuit with the Prodigy Three series.

Published

28 NOV 2024

Est. reading time

4 min

Williams Esports made a stunning debut in real-world racing, finishing 1-2 in the opening round of Racing Prodigy’s new Prodigy Three series. Known for their dominance in the simulator world, the team transitioned from virtual to real racing with impressive results at NOLA Motorsports Park, just outside New Orleans, Louisiana.

This groundbreaking series sees sim racers swap their rigs for race cars, creating an unprecedented fusion of esports and motorsport.

What is Prodigy Three?

Racing Prodigy’s Prodigy Three series offers an innovative racing experience where sim racers apply their virtual expertise on real-world circuits. Following a rigorous qualification and selection process, 24 drivers earned paid contracts to compete in this five-event championship across historic tracks in the southeastern United States.

Six teams—ranging from esports giants like Williams and G2, to unconventional entrants like the pickle brand SuckerPunch—battle it out using identical Radical SR1 race cars. With only two mechanics per team, technical precision is essential. The format is also unique: each round features head-to-head team duels, where only two teams race at a time. Points are awarded based on finishing positions, but the championship standings are determined by team win records rather than total points.

Event Overview

The first event at NOLA Motorsports Park posed a significant challenge for most drivers, many of whom had never raced a real car before. Day One consisted of practice sessions and qualifying, while Day Two delivered intense head-to-head races. Williams Esports faced off against SuckerPunch in Race One and TC Racing in Race Two.

Day One: Practice and Qualifying

The free practice session allowed drivers to acclimatise to NOLA’s bumpy, technical circuit. Kamden Hibbitt, Nathan Saxon, and David Dalton Jr., who had some prior real-world experience, set competitive times early on. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Siro Zambra focused on learning the fundamentals of car control, steadily improving as he adapted to the new environment.

For qualifying, Williams selected 15-year-old Kamden Hibbitt, one of their brightest talents, to represent the team. Kamden secured a solid P5 with a lap time of 1:49.102, placing Williams ahead of SuckerPunch but behind TC Racing. This meant the team would start Race One in 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th positions, and Race Two in 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th.

Race One: Williams Dominate SuckerPunch

Williams Esports shone in Race One, with Kamden Hibbitt leading from pole to take a commanding victory. After two laps behind the safety car, Kamden quickly built a 2-second gap and continued to extend his lead, finishing over 8 seconds ahead of his teammate, Nathan Saxon. Nathan faced relentless pressure from SuckerPunch’s Thomas Bellemin and Julian Klaffenbock but defended brilliantly, showcasing his racecraft with a decisive lunge to reclaim P2 on Lap 4.

Further back, David Dalton Jr. and Siro Zambra engaged in a heated battle with SuckerPunch’s Jai Fletcher. Both drivers showed resilience, briefly climbing to P6 and P7 before a late surge from Fletcher pushed them back. Despite this, Siro’s consistent pace and significant time improvements highlighted his potential.

Final Results – Race One

P1: Kamden Hibbitt (Williams)

P2: Nathan Saxon (Williams)

P7: David Dalton Jr. (Williams)

P8: Siro Zambra (Williams)

Race Two: TC Racing Strike Back

Race Two saw Williams face TC Racing, a formidable opponent with experienced drivers like Edoardo Leo and Gustavo Ariel. Despite starting on the outside of the grid, Williams fought valiantly. Kamden initially slipped to P3 but kept pressure on Gustavo for P2 throughout the race. Gustavo’s extensive real-world racing experience in the Porsche Cup and Stock Cars proved decisive, as he defended his position expertly.

Nathan Saxon, battling setup challenges, held P4 but couldn’t find the pace to climb higher. Behind him, David Dalton Jr. and Lorenz Horzing locked horns in an intense fight for P5. On the final lap, Horzing made a daring pass to demote David to P6. Meanwhile, Siro Zambra continued to develop his skills, cutting over 2 seconds off his best lap time from practice.

Final Results – Race Two

P3: Kamden Hibbitt (Williams)

P4: Nathan Saxon (Williams)

P6: David Dalton Jr. (Williams)

P8: Siro Zambra (Williams)

Team Performance and Takeaways

Williams Esports finished the event with a 1-1 record, placing 5th in the championship standings. While Race Two proved challenging, the team took pride in their strong debut and individual driver improvements. Kamden’s Race One victory, Nathan’s defensive masterclass,David’s shift in mentality and Siro’s rapid progress highlighted the potential for future rounds.

Key Lessons:

The team will work on optimising car setups to handle varying conditions.

Drivers will continue developing racecraft to maximise overtaking opportunities.

The team will continue to support the drivers with their physical and mental preparation as Sebring will prove to be a testing physical and mental challenge.

What’s Next?

The next round of the Prodigy Three series takes place at the iconic Sebring International Raceway on 6–7 January 2025. Known for its challenging layout and rich motorsport history, Sebring promises another thrilling weekend of racing. Williams Esports will aim to climb the standings and continue proving their mettle in real-world motorsport.

Be sure to follow Williams Esports and Racing Prodigy on social media for live updates and event streams.

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